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Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald ~ January 18, 2015 @ SOhO

This Is It!

photo by paul dunkley

Three large tables sat in front of the stage, chairs lined
the dance floor labeled with patron’s names, and the bar was roped off for
standing room only. This is what SOhO’s 20th Anniversary &
“Friendraiser” performance featuring Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald look
like upon arrival at 6 o’clock.

The artists involved in the “Friendraiser” Series donate
their time and talent, with all proceeds going to fund venue upgrades so that
SOhO can continue to bring live music to Santa Barbara. Patrons paid anywhere
from $70 (standing room) to $300 (tables) tonight to enjoy an evening of music
with Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald. The standing room area, aka the bar,
was packed with people holding their ground. “I’ve been here since 6!” stated
one female patron, solidly holding her ground next to the restroom doors. I
pitied the fool who would try to stand in front of her.

I elected to take an abandoned dinner table on the rise located
in the back of the bar, one with a chair and a good view of the television that
transmitted the show for those of us not so bold to brave the crowd.

The anticipation was tangible as we waited for the duo to
take the stage. Loggins and McDonald did not disappoint, starting off with McDonald’s
hit “Minute by Minute” then moving smoothly into “Heart to Heart.” Michael
McDonald has one of those remarkably soulful voices that makes you stop and
remember, “oh yeah, this is really good.” Loggins is no slouch in this area
either, following up with “This Is It” and a solo acoustic sing-a-long version
of “Danny’s Song (Ain’t Got
Money).”

And apparently Kenny Loggins wrote every hit song for every
hit movie in the 80s, with the duo choosing to perform “Dangerzone” and of
course… “Footloose.” Playing 14 songs of their own, with two short breaks, the
duo ended the night by getting funky with a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Living
For The City,” sending the already rambunctious crowd into a fervor.